Muslim youth shot dead in Galle

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 November 2002, 18:06 GMT]Karzi Mohammed Rameez,a 22 year old Muslim youth was shot dead and three other Mulims and four police officers were injured
when police opened fire to quell disturbance in Galle-Katugoda
area 18 November night, sources said. Curfew has been imposed
in Galle municipal area according to sources.

Residents of the area said that there was tension between the
the two communities following an incident related to a three-wheeler between Rameez and a Sinhala youth a month ago.

Yesterday
night the Muslim community had protested when Rameez's complaints to
the police that a group of
Sinhala youth has been harrassing him were ignored by the police.
The police said they had to open fire in self-defence as the
protester were turning unruly and attempted to attack them.

The injured have been admitted to the Galle-Karapiddy hospital.
The last rights of the dead Muslim youth took place today
at the Katugoda cemetary.

Sinhala civilians began a protest against the transfer adding
to the prevailing tense atmosphere and the authorities decided
to impose a curfew to prevent situation deteriorating further.

Interior Minister, John Amaratunge, declared that the curfew will
be maintained only in the area of Galle municipal council
boundary and said that vehicular movement in the Galle-Colombo road
will not be impacted by the curfew.